ST. PAUL - It was an historic season for the Willmar wrestling team.
The Cardinals placed fourth at the Class AAA at the Minnesota State High School League Tournament on Thursday at the Xcel Energy Center.
The third-seeded Cardinals defeated Centennial 38-24 in the first round but lost to No. 2-seed St. Michael-Albertville 34-18 in the semifinals. Prior Lake defeated the Cards 46-20 in the third-place match.
The fourth-place finish is the team’s best in its six trips to the tournament. Willmar, the four-time defending Section 6AAA champion, finished sixth the previous two seasons and also placed sixth in 1998. The Cardinals are now 4-12 in six tournament appearances.
“It’s awesome,” said Cardinal co-head coach Ed Oehlers, whose team finished 28-2. “The only loses down here in the state tournament. These guys have been focused.”
Against Centennial, Israel Navarro’s pin at 3:39 over Emily Shilson of Centennial and Clay Carlson’s 5-3 win over Zach Spetzman helped propel the Cardinals early.
As expected, Willmar got No. 2-seed St. Michael-Albertville (24-2) in the semifinals and knew the test would be tough. The Knights have made 25 state tournament trips and made its 17th consecutive appearance this year.
Again, Navarro and Clay Carlson picked up key early wins to inspire the Cardinal crowd. But the elation wouldn’t last as the Knights pulled out several close wins. In particular was Augustine Hahn losing to Evan Foster 6-3 in the closing seconds of the 195-pound match.
Prior Lake, a 40-19 loser against Apple Valley in the semifinals, got off to a quick start and didn’t allow Willmar to tighten up the match. The Lakers pulled off seven consecutive victories for a 28-0 lead. Colten Carlson put a stop to that with a technical fall over Tyler Hanson in the 152-pound match.
Travis Deegan continued his solid work by pinning Anthony Perez at 3:58.
“I mean, every year we have tried to progress, and make it a character thing,” Oehlers said. “With all the seniors we have, we are looking for more people to step up next year.”
And with a fourth place finish, the Cardinals are on their way.
The tournament resumes today with individual matches. Willmar has 10 wrestlers in the tournament and there are 47 Tribune-area wrestlers competing in the Class A, AA and AAA tournaments.
Class AAA State Tournament
Quarterfinals
Willmar 38, Centennial 24
106: Israel Navarro, W, pin Emily Shilson 3:39
113: Clay Carlson, W, dec. Zach Spetzman 5-3
120: Jake Bergeland, C, maj. dec. Juan Resendez 11-3
126: Tyler Shilson, C, tech fall Lincoln Shinn 19-2
132: Logan Walkow, W, dec. Mike Matheson 11-4
138: Bailey Ludwig, C, dec. Breck Erickson 4-0
145: Estevan Navarro, W, pin Chris Mullberry 1:16
152: Colten Carlson, W, pin Logan Breuning 2:15
160: Travis Deegan, W, maj. dec. John Noll 15-6
170: Darius O’Neill, W, dec. Noah Benson 4-1
182: Vaughn Johnson, W, maj. dec. Dorian Tapia
195: Augustine Hahn, W, dec. Justin Mohlin 10-5
220: Andrew Falardeau, C, pin Jalen Cabrera 3:28
285: Joe Nelson, C, pin Brady Reigstad 0:23
Semifinals
St. Michael-Albertville 34, Willmar 18
106: I. Navarro, W, dec. Patrick McKee 9-8
113: Clay Carlson, W, dec. Zach Nygaard 3-1 OT
120: Zach Dehmer, S, dec. Resendez 6-1
126: Mitchell McKee, S, pin Shinn 0:31
132: Walkow, W, pin Cody Schoen 0:59
138: Jake Allar, S, pin Jonathan Linden 4:34
145: E. Navarro, W, dec. Donnie Leuer 11-5
152: Lucas Jeske, S, dec. Colten Carlson 7-5
160: Deegan, W, dec. Mitchell Zachman 6-3
170: Evan Ronsen, S, maj. dec. 6-3
182: Jordan Joseph, S, dec. Johnson 9-4
195: Evan Foster, S, dec. Hahn 6-3
220: Jake Briggs, S, dec. Matt Hennes 8-3
285: Randy Anderson, S, dec. Reigstad 3-1
Third place
Prior Lake 46, Willmar 20
106: Curtis LeMair, P, dec. I. Navarro 6 OT
113: Zach Smith, P. dec. Clay Carlson 8-4
120: Theo Smith, P, maj. dec. Resendez 10-2
126: Gunner Charbonneau, P, pin Shinn 1:00
132: Dylan Sogge, P, dec. Walkow 8-3 OT
138: Wyatt Benson, P, pin Linden 4:31
145: Kenny O’Neil, P, dec. E. Navarro 4-3
152: Colten Carlson, W, tech fall Tyler Hanson 5:24
160: Deegan, W, pin Anthony Perez 3:58
170: San Brunkow, P, pin O’Neill 1:20
182: Johnson, W, tech. fall Jesse Miller 6:00
195: Hahn, W, maj. dec. Lucas Pumper 17-8
220: Rylee Streifel, P, pin Hennes 2:35
285: Alex Hart, P, pin Reigstad 1:40
